Letter 145: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Of [Pope Hormi]sdas to Dorotheus, bishop of Thessalonica. In the year 517, on the twelfth of April [the OCR-garbled date line and editorial apparatus are reconstructed where legible]. That he should not presume to harass John of Nicopolis any further. Bishop Hormisdas to Dorotheus, bishop of Thessalonica. John, my brother and fellow-bishop of the city of Nicopolis, together with his synod, complains that he is afflicted by various assaults and losses, because, separated from the fellowship of transgressors, he obtained communion with the Apostolic See, but did not send to the church of Thessalonica the tokens of his own ordination. He could perhaps have been blameworthy in this, if there were one single mystery among them all. But since many have separated themselves from the solidity of that rock which is Christ, who would not wish to be distinguished from the company of those in error, and to be joined with those who stand firm in the truth? Therefore it is not custom that has been neglected, but contagion that has been avoided. Shall anyone then charge error with it, where he understands that a precaution has been wholesomely devised? But what you ought to have been the first to take up, we were believing that you could at least have followed from the examples of others. There is no profit in delay over those who have fallen, unless [there be also] heaped-up reproach against those too who return to the way, out of ill will. What else is this than to hate the very name which, without impiety, [cannot be denied to] blessed Peter -- that name which was given by the Lord -- and to persecute those who take refuge at the very altars of that See? With what shame, I ask, do you desire that the privileges concerning those men should remain in your favor, when you do not keep their mandates, and you do not show the reverence which you wish to be rendered to yourself under ecclesiastical authority? If you were standing firm in the same things upon which Catholics rely, you ought nevertheless to avoid persecution, knowing, according to the institutions of our Lord and Savior whom we worship, that he who shall have scandalized one of the least is guilty of great sins [cf. Matthew]. Where is, O Lord, that humility which you taught on the occasion of your disciples contending about the rank of place? You show that man to be the greatest who has striven to display himself the least. "Look down from heaven, and see: visit this vineyard" -- planted with you as its cultivator -- attend to the least ones who keep your commandments, and to those puffed up over the pursuit of honor! 3. Why do you desire recent things and abandon ancient ones, slothful concerning the highest matters and anxious about small ones? Is this not to tithe the cheap things of the world and to despise the precepts of the law? Keep those things which befit God, and easily those things which are of men will follow. Nay rather, take up the care of salvation, and as for why another has gone before you in the truth, sigh with affection; lest, if you persist in persecuting those who return to the members of the Church, you too be coupled with those whom the Catholic judgment condemns by name. Given on the day before the Ides of April, Agapitus, most illustrious man, being consul.

isdae papae ad Dorotheum episcopuin Thessalonicensem. a. 6i7 d. • ,, 12 April. Ne Johannem Nicopolitanum ultra facessere praesumat, Hormisda episcopus Dorotheo episcopo Thessalo- nicensi. Johannes frater et coepiscopus meus NicopoUtanae urbis s cum synodo sua variis se concussionibus atque dispendiis r causatur affligi, quod a transgressorum societate divisus, im communionem sedis apostolicae emeruit, ad Thessalonicen- icclesiam ordinationis suae indicia*) non direxit. Potuisset nis hic esse culpabiHs^-si unum esset inter omnes mysterium is. At quum multi se a petrae illius, quae Christus est, soli- diviserint, quis non velit ab errantium conjunctione discerni, eatur cum his qui consistunt in veritate conjungi? Non igi- isuetudo est neglecta, sed vitata contagia. Ergo objicere quis errorem, ubi cogitatam salubriter intelligit cautionem? At uod debueras primus assumere, credebamus te sequi saltem iena exempla potuisse. Non sufficit in lapsibus mora, nisi rehensionis cumulum circa eos quoque, qui ad viam redeunt, b invidia? Quid aliud, quam beati Petri, quod sine impietate •n potest, ipsum quod a Domino datum est nomen oderunt, i qui ad sedis ipsius altaria confugiunt insequuntur? Quo pudore, rogo, privilegia circa te illorum manere deside- lorum mandata non servas, et reverentiam (JUam non exhibes cupis tibi sub ecclesiastica potestate deferri? Si in iisdem is, quibus catholici nituntur, insisteres, insectationem tamen i vitare deberes, sciens secundum Domini nostri et Salvatoris, eolimus, instituta eum, qui scandalizaverit unum de minimis, Matth. am magnis esse peccatis. Ubi est, Domine, humilitas, quam ^|'^- 3casione discipulorum tuonmi certantium de loci qualitate ta G'. Alii omitt. per PuUionem suhdiaconum, Id. initia, Mox b neqlectus sic esse, al. omitt. hic. Tdeo autem culpabilis 8 neglectus, quia, ut coustituit Leo epist. 14 c. 6, provinciarum IDyrici )litani nonmsi cum Thessalonicensis antistitis notitia et consensa ordi- raut. a. 571. docuisti? Tu osteudis illum osse luaximum, qui exliibere studumt j^etie^'^® pusillum. Respice de coeio, vide: visHa vineam te cultore plaHia- Matth. /tf/;»; iuteude circa maudata tua miuimos^), et circa ambitum hono- *'^'^^' ris elatos! 3. Cur receutia cupitis, et prisca deseritis, circa summa desides et parva curautes? Noune hoc est rerum vilia decimare, et legis praecepta coutemuere ? Servate ^) illa , quae Deo congruuut, et facile ea quae suut ab homiuibus subsequuntur. Quin potius curam salutis assume, et cur te alius praeveuerit iu veritate, affectione suspira: ne si iusectari eos qui ad Ecclesiae revertuntur membra perstiteris, tu quoque cum his, quos nominatim coudemnat catholica sententia, copuleris. Data pridie Idus Aprilis, Agapito viro clarissimo consule.